Jon let out a long and obnoxiously loud sigh, then turned toward Brett. “Yeah, and how do we know that Air Force General isn’t just as crooked as the rest? Maybe she’s in on the whole thing!”
“We don’t know. But we also don’t have any other options. It’s a risk, I know…but given the circumstances… She seemed like she wanted to actually fix things, that’s all I can say.” Brett shrugged helplessly. The lines of loyalty and treachery were greyed and intermingled now. So much had changed in the past few hours, it was difficult to really know anything for certain. He wasn’t entirely sure whose side they were on now… Actually no, that hadn’t changed. They were still just United States soldiers, fighting their enemies… Whoever those enemies turned out to be…
Bag watched silently as the plethora of encrypted information rolled across the screen in front of him. There was no changing the cards that had been dealt, but now they were playing an entirely new game with them. Every piece of information further complicated the situation and added endless variables. The only way to make sense of it is to sift through all of its falsity, but with a risk of becoming stuck in it. It was the only way forward, but the traitors were no longer his main focus…
Bag shook his head clear and let out a long frustrated sigh. “What a horrible day this has been… Alright… Let’s just get this started...”
Chapter 22 – Pomp and Circumstance
Sarah focused her breath and blew the inflated red balloon high up into the air and across the children’s hospital room. The sun was just beginning to rise over the distant mountains and dunes, and its beautiful light was pouring in through the slanted blinds of the large rectangular window. Though smaller than the other rooms, it was painted with vibrant but comfortable blue colors, and had an overall child friendliness that included a smaller sized bed and a large assortment of toys, which Sarah didn’t trust to be all that clean. She did however decide to make up her own fun with the balloons she’d brought. And despite Bag's repeated orders to spend every available moment of today resting, and Sarah's own overwhelming urge to do so, there was nowhere else she’d rather be.
Kelley moved below the falling balloon and started to puff as hard as she could, but it slowly fell and gently met the ground, prompting a frown across her face. She was so serious! Sarah laughed and passed her a reassuring smile. “Pick it up quick! The floor is lava! We got to pick it up before it gets too hot!”
Kelley smiled and grabbed ahold of the balloon with renewed vigor as fast as she could, tossing it back into the air toward Sarah. Kelley giggled the whole way, but as it started to descend it once again became a matter of grave importance to her. Sarah smiled at her concentration, then quickly bumped it back in Kelley's direction. As the balloon descended down uncontrollably, Kelley pushed the balloon up as hard as she could with her hands, sending it sailing to the top of a high bookshelf, where it became quite stuck.
Sarah laughed and moved over to grab the balloon, just as Kelley ran to her bed side hobby desk and retrieved a handmade bead bracelet, which spelled out Sarah in block letters. She grinned proudly, though somewhat bashfully, and held out the gift. “I made this for you.”
Sarah smiled brightly, then immediately tied the bracelet onto her wrist. Aw! Kelley really liked her. She was so sweet. “You made this? It’s lovely, thank you!”
Kelley gently rocked back and forth, and smiled timidly. The two stood silent as Kelley began to become less cheerful in expression and in tone. “Doctor Lawrence man said that I have to leave...but I don’t want to go..."
Sarah forced a smile. Phil already told her? Guess that was for the best though. She tried to make her next words very appealing. “The Doctor man was nice enough to get you a helicopter ride all the way to Carl Sagan! You’re so lucky, you get to live in a city so close to the beach! Everything there will be so green and pretty, all the time!”
Kelley lowered her head and spoke in an even sadder tone. “I don’t want to go…I want to stay here…”
Sarah smiled as much she could, though part of her wished she could keep Kelley with her at least until they found her parents, but she knew that wasn’t a possibility. The safest place for her was with her own family and far away from this war. “I know…but you've got to... Your aunt will take very good care of you.”
Kelley gently kicked the ground and turned away from Sarah. “Why can’t I live with you?"
Sarah quietly sighed, then bent down and wrapped her arms around Kelley in a caring hug. She had visited Kelley on every chance away from duty she had, and they had both grown very fond of each other. Letting go of that bond was difficult for both of them, but it was for the best…she kept telling herself. “Your aunt is really worried about you. It’s important during sad times to be close to your family…but I’ll still come and visit as much as I can!”
Kelley hugged back tightly. “You promise?”
“I promise!” Sarah smiled and gently hugged back a little more. She rolled her head over toward the clock on the wall; 06:42 AM. She sighed again with that realization. "Are you ready to go on your helicopter ride?"
Phil knocked loudly on the door, and then walked in from the already bustling hospital hallway. He was wearing the same digital camouflage MDU uniform with a white lab coat over the top as he had on forming night, but this time with a stethoscope over his neck. It was funny that with all the modern medical technologies, they still reverted back to the old tried and true equipment. “Hey, sorry to barge in like this, but..."
"Yeah...I know…” Sarah gently broke their hug and ran her hand through Kelley’s hair. "Go get your things, ok?"
Kelley halfheartedly nodded, walked to her bedside night stand, strapped on her brand new camouflaged rucksack, and grabbed a few various trinkets from around the room. Sarah smiled as Kelley slowly shuffled back over with her head down. She then pulled one of her own camouflaged patrol caps from her pocket and placed it snuggly on Kelley’s head. “There! Now you’re ready for anything! Just like a real soldier girl!”
Kelley smiled sadly and hugged Sarah tight, before clasping Sarah's hand as they walked down the hall to the awaiting elevator. Phil tapped sequentially into the old touch screen controls to send the elevator to the roof, and waved off a nurse who tried to walk on at the last moment. He then leaned down and smiled at Kelley as the elevator began to ascend. "I spoke to your aunt Samantha, she's really excited to see you! She told me she hasn’t seen you since you were very little! Do you remember your aunt Samantha?"
Kelley looked up to him nervously. "No..."
Phil passed her a friendly smile, then crouched down to speak more on her level. "That’s alright, she’s a very nice lady. I heard she has presents waiting for you too!"
Sarah laughed and smiled down to Kelley, trying to be reassuring to her. "Oh presents! I wish I had presents waiting for me!" Kelley slightly smiled back, but then clasped Sarah’s leg and watched fretfully as the elevator floors dinged by. Presents didn’t matter too much to her, she was having to go off to the unknown again and it was a scary thought. Sarah shared in that feeling. The elevator doors opened onto the now noisy and rotor washed rooftop from the solitary idling Stealth Hawk helicopter, painted white with a red, intertwined serpent medical symbol across both sides of the airframe.
Sarah led Kelley by the hand all the way up the helicopter pad steps, and over toward the open cabin door of the aircraft. A single crew Chief reached out from behind the door to help Kelley into her seat, but Sarah passed him a harsh glare that told him not to touch her. Kelley turned at the last moment and hugged Sarah closely. She was on the verge of tears. "I don’t want to go! Please let me stay here!"
Sarah hugged her back, and quietly sighed. “I know, I don’t want you to go either… But I’ll come visit you soon! We'll go do something really fun... but right now I need you to get on the helicopter, ok?”
Tears began to fall from Kelley’s small face, as she reluctantly released her hug. “…ok…”
Sara
h carefully took off Kelley's backpack and secured it to a seat, then picked Kelley herself up and carefully strapped her in next to it. Kelley sat very quiet and stared down at the deck in sadness; Sarah gently poked her nose then pulled the large camouflaged hat down over her eyes. Kelley readjusted her hat and smiled through her tears.
The crew chief slid over on his knees to shut the cabin door, but was abruptly grabbed on the shirt collar by Sarah, who gave him an absolute death glare. “She gets to Carl Sagan safely, or you die. Got it?”
The crew chief stared back in shock, and hesitated to respond. “Uh…ok.”
Sarah released her grasp, backed up to a safe distance, and waved one final time to Kelley as the helicopter spun up fully, and a moment later flew away into the cloudless morning sky. Phil strode up onto the helicopter pad next to her, and offered what verbal support he could. “I know that must have been pretty hard for you to do… but you can trust that it was the best choice to make for her. She’ll have a peaceful life there.”
Sarah sighed and watched with concern toward the no longer very visible aircraft. She knew that, of course… Phil tapped her gently on the shoulder and motioned for her to follow him back toward the elevator. “The crew of that bird are good honest guys that I’ve worked with for many years now... And Dade called up some of his police buddies, who came through with a heck of a background check on this Aunt Samantha. She seems to be the very genuine and good type. It’ll all be fine, Sarah... really.”
The elevator doors shut as the lift began to descend. Sarah let out a sigh, and leaned into the corner. Phil had gone above and beyond to help see to Kelley’s well-being, and even though she doubted that everything would be fine, she appreciated everything he did. “Thanks Phil... I really mean that. You always seem to come through for us, even when some things aren’t exactly in your job description.”
Phil smiled and waved his hand dismissively. “Ah don’t mention it, that’s what friends are for!”
They stood momentarily in silence as the elevator completed its trip back down to the second floor; doors opening once again into the bustling hospital below. Phil passed Sarah a friendly wave good-bye as he departed. “It was good seeing you again Sarah, but I’ve got to run. James has shrapnel in his leg and he’s practically going to chew it out himself! AND according to Brett, I need to get him squared away by 0700...which is actually right now. You guys love to make my job just that little bit more difficult!” He ended with his characteristic feigned bitterness.
Sarah returned the wave and laughed. “Yeah, that sounds like James… How’s everyone else doing?”
Phil halted his steps and grunted with some frustration. “Well, besides the typical scrapes and bruises that you all love to complain about… Jon has some minor burns on his right forearm, and of course Bag has a massive gaping chest wound. Both of them were supposed to be here right now…but of course they probably forgot they had an appointment at all. Hey if you see them, can you remind them that their health is kind of important and that I’d like to make sure they can keep doing their jobs.”
Sarah half-smiled. “Yeah, of course I will…”
Phil did likewise, and noticed that Sarah was obviously drifting in thought. He had a feeling he knew what it was about too. “Thank you… Speaking of that… For what it’s worth, I’m sorry to hear about your team… It’s hard to believe a lucky bastard like Reagan didn’t turn that whole situation around and win the lottery at the same time… If you need someone to talk to, I’ll be here.” He ended on a serious note. He hoped she would take it as genuine instead of just ‘The Doctor thing he’s required to say’. Mental health was just as important as physical, and people in the military tended to be very stubborn about asking for help.
She nodded to him respectfully, and the two past another set of departing waves. Sarah however stood there in thought; Pierce had been brought into the hospital early that morning, and he was still alive. That meant he could still speak… Sarah pivoted sharply and called out to Phil, stopping him mid stride. “Phil! Um…I had another question… One that I’d like to keep between just us.”
Phil glanced at her curiously, and moved back into whispering range. “Of course…what is it?”
Sarah waited as a group of nurses passed by, and delayed speaking until they were completely out of ear shot. “It’s about…Pierce. The CIA guy that was brought in last night…”
Phil nodded and had a feeling he knew where she was going with this… “Yeah, I did surgery on him a few hours ago…and he’s under strict guard by Brett’s orders… What about him?”
Sarah’s expression went cold, along with her tone. “I want to speak to him. I’d like to ask him some questions…”
Phil sighed and shook his head firmly NO. “You know I can’t let you do that, Sarah… Brett gave very specific orders that no one can speak to him without his permission. He doesn’t want-”
Sarah completed his sentence, in the same cold tone. “One of us to kill him while he’s vulnerable?”
Phil hesitated to answer for a moment, but then shrugged with a sigh. This was going to be an argument, he could already tell. Maybe he could convince her it was a bad idea? Probably not though… “Yeah, I guess that’s exactly it… but if you’re looking for some answers, I just remembered that Pierce had come into my office right after you’d left for New Madrid. All he told me was that there were no civilian survivors AT ALL from Camp Iron, and to keep it that way… When I asked what he was talking about, he just said ‘The Girl’ and walked out. I received an odd phone call no more than like 15 minutes later from a blocked number, asking if we had admitted a little girl from the frontier. All I said was all the patients in my hospital were military, and they hung up.”
Sarah analyzed the words carefully, paying particular attention to the last part. Sounded almost like Pierce was trying to hide her. Why would he do that for one person after abducting an entire town? Now she HAD to speak to him… Phil had to understand that. “So, you lied to protect her?” She said at length.
Phil thought about it and just shrugged. “More like made a true statement without really answering their initial question. It just seemed really strange to me…the whole thing. I didn’t really want to bring my hospital up against either side of whatever THAT was. The safety and well-being of my patients always takes priority... But hey I gotta go now, I have to prep for surgery. I swear, working with you all is making my hair grey...”
Sarah rushed in front of him and held up her hand. Surgery or not, he was the only one that could help her with this. "Wait...just tell me what room he's in. I ONLY want to talk to him."
"I can’t, Sarah…”
Sarah crossed her arms and passed him a serious look. “Phil, you can’t just tell me all of THAT and then expect me to drop this. Please tell me where he is, I’m not leaving until you do.”
Phil crossed his arms right back and stated firmly, “I can’t tell you that, and you know it.”
Sarah stared at him with a raised brow, and a very determined look on her face. Phil stared back with as stern an expression as he could, but eventually let out a submissive sigh. She wasn’t going to drop it, he knew that now. Why was he so nice to people? "Alright fine... Just don’t do anything we’ll both regret… I shouldn’t have said anything to begin with.”
The two immediately reentered the elevator, sent the lift moving toward the third floor, and departed out the doors just as quickly. Phil briskly led Sarah down the hallway that smelled heavily of fake cinnamon air freshener, behind a reception desk where two catty nurses were busy chatting, and immediately through a set off double swinging doors. Sarah followed him through, but only after receiving some strange looks from the staff. She then realized she had just entered the men’s locker room... This was suddenly inappropriate. Phil opened and searched an entire row of random lockers, and ultimately grabbed a set of nurse’s scrubs and tossed them to Sarah. "Put those on. Don’t say anything, just follow my lead."
&n
bsp; Phil waited for her to don the uniform, and then led her out and back down the long hall toward the critical care wing. Pierce's room was instantly recognizable, since it was the only one being guarded by four, armed Army sentries. Fortunately these sentries were unmistakably bored and tired, evident from their slouched posture and demeanor.
The two strolled smartly toward them, when the Sergeant of the group moved in and blocked their path. "Excuse me Sir, but I need to check your ID’s first.” He stated none too enthusiastic.
Phil quickly unhooked his ID card from his coat pocket, and held it out in the most annoyed pose and tone he could muster. “I’m Major Phil Lawrence. I’m the Doctor who admitted Mr. Pierce, remember?”
The sentry leaned in closely to inspect the ID, then noticed Sarah wasn't warring any form of ID. "Yes Sir, but I’ll also need to see her ID.”
Phil turned to Sarah in mock surprise, sighed, and spoke to her very scolding as if she were his student. "You forgot your ID card again? How many times have I told you to always put it on your scrubs? You aren’t an intern anymore, you need to act professional!”
Sarah shrugged heavily and forced herself to try to look embarrassed and replied meekly, “Sorry, Sir… I don’t know why I forgot…”
The sentry began to fidget impatiently. “Sir…”
Phil waved him off, and snapped back. “Yeah yeah… Look, I only have a few minutes before I have to do surgery on a patient. By the time she runs to the locker and comes back, we could’ve completed our checks and been done. So unless you know how to prep a room for surgery, you’re going to cost me time that I don’t have to spare right now…”
The sentry looked over at Sarah curiously, but then nodded and moved aside. He wasn’t about to argue with a Major… “Uh, no. You go right on ahead, Sir.”
"Thank you..." Phil quickly brushed past him, then shut the door and quietly locked it as soon as Sarah entered. "Please make this fast…I actually can’t afford to be late." He stated sincerely.
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